Minnow bucket



June 11, 1963 E. s. BAKER 3,092,926

MINNOW BUCKET Filed Sept. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. EDWARD s. BAKER ATTORNEY June 11, 1963 E. s. BAKER 3,092,926

MINNOW BUCKET Filed Sept. 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD S. BAKER ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiiice 3,992,926 Patented June 11, 1963 3,092,926 MTNNOW BUCKET Edward S. Baker, Wichita, Kans. Andover Mfg. Co., Benton, Kans.) Filed Sept. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 55,371 1 Claim. (Cl. 43-57) This invention relates to a minnow bucket. More particularly, the invention relates to an aerating type minnow bucket having an integral air chamber and means to supply air under pressure to the chamber with conduit means leading therefrom to the water retaining chamber within the minnow bucket to provide a continuous supply of air to the water chamber.

Various types of minnow buckets are known in the prior art. These include the common and standard type minnow bucket which is merely a cylindrical receptical which can have a removeable perforated minnow retaining element within the bucket. Other minnow buckets of the prior art utilize air chambers of various types and designs to provide an air supply to the water in the minnow retaining portion of the bucket. The prior art aerated minnow buckets have proved generally unsatisfactory in that they locate the valve means for releasing air into the water chamber in such a position that the valve means is often operated accidentally. Also, the prior art aerated type minnow buckets provide no safety means to prevent an excessive amount of air pressure being pumped into the air retaining chamber of the bucket, thereby resulting in puncturing the air chamber itself or causing injury to the valve means or pump means. Furthermore, the prior art minnow buckets of all types are not constructed so as to be entirely insulated to make them desirable or usable in all types of weather situations. Also, the prior art devices are generally expensive to produce due to the necessity of a large number of parts which are not interchangeable or usable for more than one part of the bucket.

In accordance with the present invention a new type aerating minnow bucket has been provided which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, a new type aerating minnow bucket is provided which has the valve means connecting the air chamber and the air conduit positioned within the bucket itself to eliminate any possibility of damage to the valve means or accidental misadjustment of this valve. Also, a safety valve is provided to eliminate the possibility of pumping excessive air pressure within the air retaining chamber. The aerating minnow bucket of the invention is recessed and insulated to permit its use in all types of weather conditions. Also, the minnow bucket of the invention is constructed so that it is never necessary for the bucket to be placed within the water, which eliminates moisture from accumulating on the outside of the bucket. The minnow bucket of the invention is constructed so that it is economical in manufacture and utilizes interchangeable parts.

The minnow bucket of the invention consists of a bucket having an air chamber. Pump means are provided to supply air under pressure to the air chamber. The valve means connect the air chamber to the water retaining portion of the bucket. The bottom of the bucket is preferably recessed which, together with the air chamber provides an insulated bucket which can be used in all types of weather conditions. Safety valve means are preferably provided connecting the air chamber with the atmosphere so as to prevent excessive air pressure in the air chamber. The top of the bucket is preferably made from the same type blank as the bottom, and a hinged lid is provided which is preferably stamped or otherwise cut from the center portion of the top to eliminate the necessity of providing a separate element for the lid.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new minnow bucket.

A further object is to provide a new aerating minnow bucket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new aerating minnow bucket which is insulated from weather effects.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new aerating bucket having valve means connecting the air chamber with a conduit leading to the water chamber so that the use of the air supply can be regulated to provide the proper amount of air to the water chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new minnow bucket having an air chamber with safety valve means incorporated therein to prevent excessive pressure from building up within the air chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new minnow bucket constructed in such a manner as to use some of the parts interchangeably and reduce inventory of parts and the overall costs of the items.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new minnow bucket having a sealed air chamber, the inner wall of which is corrugated to provide additional strength to the air chamber.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred construction of the aerating minnow bucket of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross section view of the minnow bucket.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse cross section view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section view taken through the air valve regulator means of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial top plan view showing the preferred construction of the lid means.

The following is a discussion and description of a pre ferred specific embodiment of the new minnow bucket of the invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the preferred construction of the aerating minnow bucket of the invention is shown generally at 10 and includes a circular top 12, a circular bottom 14, both of which are preferably recessed in the center portion as best seen in FIG. 2 to provide like relatively narrow annular ledges 16 and 18. The ledges 16 and 18 preferably have lip portions 20 and 22 respectfully on the outer rim thereof extending the entire distance around the circular top and bottom 12 and 14.

An outer, preferably cylindrical wall 24 is provided which is positioned between the ledges 16 and 18 and engages the outer lips or flanges 20 and 22. An inner, generally cylindrical wall 26 is positioned between the innermost portion 28 of the ledge 16 and the innermost portion 30 of the ledge 18 of the bottom 14. The inner wall 26 is generally concentric with the outer wall 24 and is preferably formed with corrugations 32 to increase the strength of the minnow bucket.

The inner wall 26 and the outer wall 24 are secured to the top 12 and bottom 14 by any suitable means, such as by bonding with a suitable plastic adhesive as shown at 34 to rigidly secure the walls thereto. Other types of sealing or adhesive means can be utilized, however for ease of construction and economic reasons the theplastic or other type of adhesive 3 4..to form-an air tight chamber. This air chamber extends entirely around theminnow bucket, and together withthe recessed bottom 14 provides a minnow bucket which is insulated and can be used in the hot summer sunor on ice without effecting the use of the bucket for its intended function. The corrugations 32 on theinner wall 26 add additional strength to the air chamber and permit arelatively high air pressure to be used therein Without buckling or otherwise elfecting the bucket structure. a

jA'pump .40 is sealinglymounted in the bucket so as to extend i nto the air chamber 36 and preferably projects from the upper ledge. =16, A suitable mounting member 42' can be utilized inmounting the pumpdtl in the air chamber 34." The pump 4ll has an operator bar or rod 44 which is connected to the piston (not shown) inthe pump. structure and to which an operating rod or knob 46 is connected so that the pump 4 0 can beoperated by raising and lowering the knob 46. The. pumpstructure 40 is the'usual construction so that upon operation theair will be continuously pumped into the'charnber 36.. r

A valve member 50, which is preferably formed of a suitable plastic material, is sealingly mounted in the inner wall26Jand communicates with'annular air chamber 36 throughthe hollow 52 of the valve-body.t The.valve operator 54 for the valve 50 is preferably threadedly mounted in the valve body 50yso as-to extendinto .the

interior .of the bucket 10. This mounting of the valve assembly is very desirable, since, the valve operator 54 cannot thereby be accidentally adjusted-to. cut off air being, supplied to the interiorQof the bucket. Also, with the valve50 mounted onthe inside of the bucket the pos-- sibility of the valvelbeing-accidentally knocked off of the bucket during use is eliminated... .fI'he end portion-51 of the valve member 50 ispreferably reduced in size vand dimensioned relative to the opening in the inner wall 26 so, as to .be mounted therein by a press fit. Sealing cement can be used to secure the valve v50in wall 26. .The outlet j from the valve 50 is shown at'5g6. and is preferably circulet in cross section to receivetheend of the conduit means. 1 A conduit 69 is provided and is dimensioned relative to the outlet 56in the valve .50 soas to be mounted therein in operation. Conduit .60 extends alongthe inside of the inner wall 26 to thebottorn 14, and preferably extends-- an interior portion66 which is reduced in'diameter and can be mounted in theinnerwall 26 by a press fit in much the same manner as the valveSlt hereinbefore described. The valve 64 is preferably made of a plastic material which reducesthe costandfacilitates mounting of the valve on the ,wall 26; The-valve 64, like the valve 50,

can be sealed when mounted on the wall 26 by anysuitablesealing compound, and in some'instances the plastic valvev members 50 and .64 can be heated when mounted and sufiicient plastic will flow from the valve bodies to sealtheumembers. therein. The valve'member 64 is' designed inthe usual. manner so that when pressure in the.

air chamber 36 reaches a' jpredetermined limit thevalve willbeopened to permitsome of the air within the-c'ham her to be'exhausted therefrom.

A lid 76 is provided .in'the top 12 to provide access into the interior or" the bucket 16. The preferred manner of constructing. the lid 70 is best seen; in FIG. 5. The

4 reduced center portion of the lid 12 has the lid 74 cut or otherwise removed therefrom. The lid 7 9 is preferably in the shape of a polygon as shown in FIG. 5, and once the lid is removed from the top 12 it is rotated slightly and is hingedly mounted on the top 12. The hinge 72 has the portion thereof engaging the lid 70 connected to the lid at one of the angles or points between the sides of the lid 70. As best seen in FIG. 2, the hinge means can be made of two plastic parts, the lower portion 74 of which has an enlarged flange thereon to prevent the entire hinge means from projecting through the opening in the top 12,. andtheupper portions 72 having spaced endswhich engage and are received by the lower portion 74 to retain the lid 70 thereon. The top portion 72;eX-. tends through the lid'7ilv and, by the application of heat or other suitable means, is flattened .or enlarged as shown at 76 to connect the lid 70 thereto. .The lower portion 74 of the hinge means is positioned along the-flat edge of .the polygon shaped openingformed by the removal of the lid .70 so that. when the lid 70 is thus mounted thereon and in the closed position there will be a plurality of small triangular shaped openings between edge of the lid70 and the opening in the top 12. This construc tion for the lid means 70 permits full utilization ofthe 7 of the water retaining chamber, and there is no opening at either of these locations in the bucket of the invention.

The lid 70 is held in. place on the top 12 by spring enclosure member 80 which. is connected to the top by mounting pin 82. or other suitable means. The spring 80 is-preferably. a simple. spring latch, such as an elon-' gated piecevof wire orspring material which has one or more, loops ,84 formed therein and which hasHan end portion '86 projecting through a slot 88 in the top of the bucket or lid 70. The end portion -86-is preferably enlarged ,or.turned-relativetotheslot 88 so that the end 86 will not accidentally slip therefrom. With this vconstruction the lid 70 .can bevclosedand the spring member 80 will givesufliciently to allow the lid tobe moved to the closed position.

typespring means or latch means can be used to maintain lid 70 in closedposition. With the lid-70 constructed inthe manner hereinbefore described, the latch means" 80 is preferably mounted at thepoint between two sides 1 of, the polygon. shapedlid 70 so that the latch means will engage the fiat side of the opening formed by-the removal of the polygon shaped lid 70.

A suitable handle 92, preferably formed of wood or plastic material is;provided to carry the bucket. .The'

handle. 2 .is connected to'the top 12 ofthe bucket by suitable wire or side members 94 which are connected 1 to hinges 96 mounted on either side of the lid 70. The hinges 96 can conveniently'be formed of: plastic and preferably have a base portion position within theibucket 10 and a body portion projecting from the top '12 with an opening therein to receive the ends of'the wire'94' of the handle. s v The ,provision of one blank for the top and bottom eliminates inventory problems and manufacturing stepsi encountered in the construction and manufacture of the usual type minnow bucket. -The lid 70-is formed from the reduced center portion of one of these members-in the; manner hereinbefore described andeliminates the waste usually encountered in forming an opening into the center of the buckets, and also eliminates the-necessity of purchasing additional lid means for'use with the The wire or spring member 80 is bent to form a catch to engage the'inside of the ,top 12 when the lid 70 is in the closed position. Otherbucket structure. The bucket constructed in the manner described provides an air chamber which can be properly adjusted to supply air to the water within the bucket so that minnows therein can be easily kept many hours without the necessity of repumping. This type of minnow bucket can keep minnows almost indefinitely since it is only necessary to occasionally pump the air chamber full in order to provide the necessary aerated water to keep the minnows alive. Also, the minnow bucket is air tight and will float thereby providing an excellent life preserver in case of emergencies. The fact that the bucket is insulated permits its use in many areas and at times of the year that is not possible with buckets of other types of construction. The bucket is preferably made of aluminum which reduces weight and reflects heat.

The invention has been described in connection with a preferred specific embodiment thereof, however it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claim. Various modifications of the preferred construction can be made or followed from the light of this discussion and description without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or the scope of the claim.

I claim:

An aerating minnow bucket comprising, in combination, a circular top and bottom, said top and said bottom being formed from identical pieces and having the center portion thereof recessed to provide like relatively narrow annular ledges at the outer extremity thereof in mirror image relation, an outer wall forming the sides of said bucket, said wall being cylindrical and positioned between said ledges of said top and said bottom to abut the outermost portion thereof, an inner cylindrical wall, said inner wall being positioned between the innermost portion of said ledges and being concentric with said outer wall, said inner wall having corrugations therearound, said inner and outer walls being bonded to said top and said bottom by a plastic adhesive to rigidly secure said walls thereto,

said walls and said ledges forming an annular air retaining chamber, a pump secured with-in said annular chamber and projecting from said ledge on said top and in sealing relation therewith, an operator for said pump extending from said top, a plastic valve sealingly mounted in said inner wall and communicating with said annular chamber, said valve having the valve operator thereof projecting into the interior of said bucket, an air conduit, said conduit having one end thereof mounted in said valve, said conduit extending along the inside of said inner wall to said bottom, the other end of said conduit being positioned on the inside of said bottom of said bucket, a safety valve, said safety valve being mounted in said inner wall and communicating with said annular air chamber, said center portion of said top having an opening therein in the size and shape of a polygon, a lid of the same shape as said opening in said top and formed from material removed from said top, said lid being hingedly mounted on the edge of said opening for access into said bucket, said lid being located relative to said opening so that the corners of said lid engage said top adjacent said opening therein when said lid is closed, spring latch means on said lid engageable with said top to maintain said lid in the closed position, and a handle hingedly mounted on said top, said device being constructed and adapted to provide a minnow bucket in which the water received therein can be adjustably aerated by pumping air into said cylindrical chamber and allowing it to escape therefrom through said valve and said conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,426,211 Pausin Aug. 15, 1922 1,568,730 Gleason Jan. 5, 1926 1,731,921 Coleman Oct. 15, 1929 2,407,781 Guyer Sept. 17, 1946 2,863,255 Slipka Dec. 9, 1958 2,968,887 Woolworth Jan. 24, 1961 

